May 25, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

KARACHI, May 24: Two fancied horses — four-year-old bay filly Diamond In Dust and three-year-old chestnut colt Tyre Jee — looks set to vie for supremacy in The Roses In May Cup when the Gymkhana race meeting takes place at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday.

Both the contestants are form horses and have come up with splendid performance in the recent past. The cup race which is also the day’s feature event to be run over six furlongs is expected to be a closely contested affair between the two aspirants.

The handling of mounts by the respective jockeys matters most when it comes to a neck-and-neck battle.

The two are likely to be chased by the colt Spirit Of Arab, who also has strong credentials in a field of 10 runners in the fifth race barring last minute withdrawls.

Five-year-old bay mare Lady Conqueror is poised to atone for the loss she suffered last month by picking up spoils in the six furlongs last race which is also the supporting event.

There are eight acceptors left in the fray after scratching and among them, mare Blind Date and bay Rokara comes in the reckoning for places.

Either of the two — filly Baby John or colt Back In Action — belonging to the same connection are over and above the rest in the pack of 13 and who-so-ever is backed will return with flying colours in the top division of class VII.

We fancy Baby John who after finishing good second in the last three runs may oblige the punters. On the other hand, Back In Action will make his appearance after a five-month layoff when he lifted The Eid-ul-Azha Cup in Dec 25 meeting last year.

Bay Bharosa and colt John Player should chase the winner for the places.

After failing to acquire a place on the board in the last run on May 11, three-year-old chestnut colt Sayeen Jee is rated to land the third race by overcoming the opponents.

His likely challengers who may pose as a threat to him are Star Of Galaxy and Princess Rozi.

If tried, mare Royal Loyalty and colt Speed Of Arab should land the first two races.

A card of six races has been drawn for the day. The first race starts at 1.30pm.

Following is the field and our selections:

THE RINGO PLATE DIV V CLASS VII 5F:

Captain Cook 9-0, Full ‘N’ Final 8-13, Bewitched 8-8, Qandhar 8-7, Royal Loyalty 8-7, Eye Lady 7-10, Lucky View 7-10, Shah Sawar 7-10.

Win: Royal Loyalty.

Place: Full ‘N’ Final and Captain Cook.

THE RINGO PLATE DIV III

CLASS VII 5F:

Hamza Joy 9-0, The Choice Of The Day 8-7, Speed Of Arab 8-4, Spanzer 8-3, Dilruba 8-3, Marhba 8-3, Moon Dazzler 8-3, Sonia 8-2, Raj Kumari 8-1, Guess Its Me 8-0, Queen Of Kinjher 7-13, Love Pakistan 7-12, Dream Prince 7-11, Princess Zara 7-11.

Win: Speed Of Arab.

Place: Hamza Joy and Love Pakistan.

THE RINGO PLATE DIV II CLASS VII 5F:

Sayeen Jee 9-0, Star Of Galaxy 8-13, Marvi Express 8-13, Princess Rozi 8-8, Whirl Wind 8-3, Black Velvet 8-2, Bam Bamm 8-2, Fast Track 8-2, Hur-a-Mehran 8-2, Navaho’s Glory 8-2, Sweetie Pie 7-12, Little Lucifar 7-10.

Win: Sayeen Jee.

Place: Star of Galaxy and Princess Rozi.

THE RINGO PLATE DIV I CLASS VII 5F:

Mr. Mention Not 9-1, Back in Action 9-0, Bharosa 9-0, Blind Love 9-0, Inside Story 9-0, Manan Prince 9-0, Blassom 8-13, John Player 8-10, New Approach 8-9, Baby John 8-4, Haroon Prince 8-4, Prince Salman 8-4, INXS 8-1.

Win: Baby John/Back In Action.

Place: Bharosa and John Player.

THE ROSES IN MAY CUP 2008

CLASS III, IV AND V DIV I AND II 6F:

King Of Sanghar 10-0, Afroze Jehan 9-10, Taiz Per 9-4, Diamond In Dust 8-9, Black Girl 8-8, Savabeel 8-6, Tyre Jee 8-2, Vice Admiral 7-11, Spirit Of Arab 7-8, Desert Hawk 7-4.

Win: Diamond In Dust/Tyre Jee.

Place: Spirit Of Arab.

THE FRAGRANCE PLATE CLASS VI 6F:

Crown Prince 9-2, Rokara 9-0, Dark secret 8-11, Leopard Of Arab 8-9, Blind Date 8-8, Temptation 8-6, Sweet Girl 8-0, Lady Conqueror 7-13.

Win: Lady Conqueror.

Place: Blind Date and Rokara.

DAY’S BEST: Diamond In Dust/Tyre Jee.

GOOD DOUBLE: Speed Of Arab and Lady Conqueror.